Bhubaneswar, Oct. 24: A shot from constable Seshananda Sarangi’s 9-mm service pistol killed deputy inspector-general of police Jaswinder Singh in Raygada yesterday. But more such “accidents” could happen given the limited arms handling skills of the personal security officers (PSOs) in Orissa.

With their fingers on the triggers of firearms such as the 9-mm pistols and AK-47s, the PSOs guarding the VIPs may give a sense of security to those around, but devoid of regular target practice and rustiness, the guards can wreak havoc with the same weapons.

“The PSOs are not that proficient with the guns as they get to use them only once a year during the annual range firing,” admitted deputy inspector-general of police (Bhubaneswar range) Y.B. Khurania, who has two PSOs guarding him round the clock with 9-mm pistols.

“I feel it (the current training) is not adequate to cater to the changing needs. The PSOs need more practice to hone their skills,” said Khurania.

A PSO is a havildar or constable who has received just six months of training — drill instructor’s course — during which he is taught to handle carbines, SLRs, INSAS rifles and AK-47s, among other firearms.

The constables are posted in the armed police battalions where the reserve inspectors concerned give them assignments with the high and mighty of the state.

The course over, there is hardly any opportunity for the PSOs to put their skills to use. They grease the weapons and keep them in proper shape, only to use them once a year.

“We allow them (PSOs) an annual range firing to keep them in touch with their firing capabilities,” said Naresh Patel, reserve inspector at the armed police reserve in Bhubaneswar.

At the annual event, too, the PSOs cannot fire more than 10 bullets each depending on the availability of stock.

“The course is the only training we get in arms. But it’s done in such a hurried fashion that we find it difficult to grasp the systems. The situation worsens when we are asked to learn how to handle bigger weapons. With hardly any time for practise, our handling of the bigger weapons is not up to the mark,” rued Biren Barik, a havildar working as a PSO.

The results of the shooting exercise that many of the PSOs undergo to familiarise themselves with automatic firearms are not too encouraging either.

Inspector-general (training) Sanjiv Marik, who heads the Biju Patnaik Police Training Academy here, said a significant number of havildars and constables are unable to shoot straight even after attending the annual session.

“We do not make compromises. But accidents are accidents, they can happen at any place and any time. It’s a professional hazard,” he said.